Market your coaching business with social media

Marketing for your coaching business isn’t just about putting out advertisements, it’s about connecting to people. Once you’re in on the conversation, you will get advertising naturally through social sharing – the Internet’s equivalent of word of mouth. This includes “likes” and sharing on Facebook, “retweets” on Twitter, and so on. People are more likely to notice a product or service based on customer reviews and the recommendation of friends than an advertisement.

In her book, The Facebook Era, Clara Shih wrote: “Successful companies today don’t market to people. They market between people.” Social media is an ideal way to market between people.

Growing up with the Internet most of my life, I’ve found that I trust a sampling of well-written reviews more than the words of a business trying to sell me something. When I was saving money to get my first television, the first place I looked for information wasn’t the staff at an electronics store – it was the Internet.

More specifically, it was the reviews that people had left on forums and articles about televisions. I didn’t know about what made one television better than another, and I didn’t have time to learn it all, so I read what other people had to say. Only after I’d narrowed down a few promising choices recommended by other people did I check out the manufacturer’s websites and make a final decision.

Get your social media plan started:

1. Blog. Writing regularly in a blog on your niche coaching business web site not only improves your site’s ranking in Google and other search engines, but it also keeps your clients interested and engaged. Visitors of your site will also appreciate that your content isn’t old and possibly outdated. Having a blog reflects well on your business and attracts attention.
2. Socialize. Joining social sites is a simply but effective way to get on the internet map and allow people to find you. Create a Facebook fan page, start a Twitter account, build a LinkedIn profile, and start communicating in groups that relate to your coaching expertise. For example, if you’re a relationship coach, join in on conversations about marriage issues or struggling relationships. Don’t forget to post links to your blog on your social media sites, too.
3. Forums. Find forums and other interactive websites that are related to your business, especially your particular coaching niche. Get in on the conversation and provide valuable information. People will appreciate your input and keep you in mind the next time they think about getting coaching. A word of warning: try not to spam people with obvious advertising. Speak as a person, not as a business.
4. Testimonials. When you have a satisfied client, you can suggest that to leave you a testimonial on one of your social media sites or blog. Naturally, you don’t want to demand this, as it’s not only rude but defeats the purpose of social media. Simply let them know that it would be great if they shared their thoughts online so that other people can benefit from your coaching, too.

All of these elements will give you a great start in social media. Just be careful not to spend too much time on it! It can be easy to get lost in the conversation. You can find even more tips for building a successful coaching business in Dr. Craig’s free report.

What social media do you use? How do you think you could use it with your coaching business? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to know what you think.